diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index 1497e1f2a08c..943569e82b82 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -2251,6 +2251,33 @@ static int parse_events__sort_events_and_fix_groups(struct list_head *list)
 		}
 		last_event_was_forced_leader = (force_grouped_leader == pos);
 	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Make sure the first wildcard match is the earliest entry in the list.
+	 * Since list_sort might have reordered the aliases, the original leader
+	 * might not be at the head of the list anymore. We find the first
+	 * alias in the sorted list and make it the new leader, and redirect
+	 * all other aliases to it.
+	 */
+	list_for_each_entry(pos, list, core.node) {
+		struct evsel *orig_leader = pos->first_wildcard_match;
+
+		if (!orig_leader)
+			continue;
+
+		if (orig_leader->first_wildcard_match) {
+			/* Original leader was redirected to a new leader */
+			pos->first_wildcard_match = orig_leader->first_wildcard_match;
+		} else if (pos->core.idx < orig_leader->core.idx) {
+			/*
+			 * We are earlier than the original leader in sorted order,
+			 * and no earlier alias has claimed leadership yet.
+			 */
+			orig_leader->first_wildcard_match = pos;
+			pos->first_wildcard_match = NULL;
+		}
+	}
+
 	list_for_each_entry(pos, list, core.node) {
 		struct evsel *pos_leader = evsel__leader(pos);